being slovenly through their regard for the outward respect of
others, and cleanliness comes very near to godliness. I have known
it to keep men out of low company through their desire to catch a
reflected glory from their superiors, and company is an informant
of character. I have even known it to make men open-handed through
a dislike to appear niggardly in public, and--" But I saw a look
of such evident distress on the face before me that I checked my
flight in very pity. A man with any sensibility will find himself
constantly curbed by his regard for the feelings of others.

When Mistress Routh's assistant appeared I took the opportunity of
sending a note to Lady Jane, telling of my whereabouts, and that
I would present myself in a day or two when I had effected sufficient
change in my appearance.

This I was enabled to do by the help of the wig-maker--who was
clever enough with what he put outside other men's heads, though
I could not think so highly of what he had got into his own--and
by a liberal supply of gold pieces to my tailor.

I was now dressed with some approach to my ideas of what was fitting,
and my own satisfaction was only equalled by that of little
Christopher.

"Ah, Kit, my boy," I admonished him, for I felt it incumbent on me
to contribute somewhat to the general morality of such a household,
"I am no more Captain Geraldine in these fine feathers than I was
in the scurvy black of the lawyer's clerk."

"But you feel more like Captain Geraldine," the boy said, pertinently
enough.

"I do, my boy, I do, for I am still subject to the vanities of the
flesh."

"Don't say that!" the boy cried, half angrily--"that is like they
talk at meeting," and I felt ashamed I should have let slip anything
before the child that could hurt his sense of my bearing towards
what his mother respected, though I was puzzled to rightly estimate
his own expression.

"I won't, my lad, but listen!" and I gave my sword a flourish and
began the rattling air,

"Dans les gardes francaises
J'avais un amoureux--"

and then I suddenly reflected I had no right to sing these ribald
songs before the boy, even though he might not understand a word,
and again I was ashamed, so fell a-story-telling, and I told him
tales that made even his favourites of Agag and Sisera seem pale,
and the singing was forgotten.

Though these constant talks with Kit, who would scarce be kept a
moment from my side, were entertaining enough